Via The Tricycle Community // Guidelines for an Ethical Life

 Guidelines for an Ethical Life
With Leslie Booker

Ethical action begins with the recognition that we are all connected, says meditation teacher and activist Leslie Booker, whose new Dharma Talk series investigates the foundations of a moral life.

Watch now »

Via Daily Dharma: Let Liberation Carry You Along

 To get over yourself, appreciate what is other than you and get on with living, being liberated, free of the karma that we create. Trust the universe and let it carry you along.

—Roshi Robert Althouse, “After Awakening”

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Via Daily Dharma: Notice Discomfort Disappear

 Experiencing the disappearance of discomfort soothes the mind, makes it confident, and allows for the insight of impermanence: Everything passes.

—Sylvia Boorstein, “The Wisdom of Discomfort”

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Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice | 200+ Musicians ...

Via White Crane Institute // TOMMY KIRK

 

Tommy Kirk and Old Yeller

1941 -

TOMMY KIRK, American actor, born; If you are of a certain age, and watched early kid-TV and Disney movies, there is little need to say who Tommy Kirk is. Or more accurately, was. Kirk is an object lesson in the dangers of not concealing one's Gayness in the early 1960s. Kirk was a child star in such blockbuster Disney films as The Absent Minded Professor, Old Yeller, and The Shaggy Dog.

But in his late teens, despondent over the exploitation of his cute all-American adolescent image, Kirk took a step that most of his Gay predecessors in Hollywood never dared. He came out to Disney. Immediately fired, Kirk briefly received national press coverage but soon passed into obscurity.

He joined church organizations working with Gay and lesbian youth. He remained furious, and, at times, vocal, about Disney's propaganda mill and discriminatory practices. Unfortunately, Kirk's heroic act has all but disappeared from Gay history.

Tommy Kirk was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2006, alongside his old co-stars Tim Considine and Kevin Corcoran.

His other repeat co-stars, Annette Funicello and Fred MacMurray, had already been inducted (in 1992 and 1987, respectively). Also in 2006, the first of Kirk's Hardy Boys serials was issued on DVD in the fifth "wave" of the Walt Disney Treasures series.

Via Daily Dharma: Coming to Terms with Reality

 We’re all prisoners of life and death. The question is: What kind of prisoners do we want to be? 

—Bonnie Myotai Treace, “Rising to the Challenge: Filling the Well with Snow”

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Via Daily Dharma: Take Care of Your Body

The body, however evanescent in its character, must be considered holy even as the holy tree, and all the necessary care should be taken to keep it the worthy vessel in which the spirit is lodged.

—Soyen Shaku, “The Middle Way”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - December 9, 2020 💌

 

Every moment of your life, once you understand it’s purpose, is your vehicle for awakening. This moment is your vehicle for awakening. If you’re uncomfortable, allow it. If you’re fascinated, be fascinated, allow it. Give it space.

- Ram Dass -

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The Reverend James Lewis Stoll

1994 -

REV. JAMES LEWIS STOLL, M.Div.a Unitarian Universalist minister, died (b: 1936). Stoll was the first ordained minister of any religion in the United States or Canada to come out as gay. He did so at the annual Continental Conference of Student Religious Liberals on September 5, 1969 in La Foret, Colorado.

Born in 1936 in Connecticut, he was educated at San Francisco State University and the Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. In the words of his friend, Leland Bond-Upson, Mr. Stoll took a flat in the Eureka Valley neighborhood in San Francisco with three other friends. In September 1969, Mr. Stoll went to the La Foret Conference Center in Colorado Springs to attend a convention of about 100 college-age Unitarians. On the second or third night of the conference, Stoll got up to speak. He told the assembly that he’d been doing a lot of hard thinking that summer and that he could no longer live a lie.

He had been hiding his true nature—from everyone except his closest friends. “If the revolution we are in means anything, it means we have the right to be ourselves, without shame or fear.” And then he told the group he was gay, and it wasn’t a choice, and he wasn’t ashamed anymore and he wasn’t going to hide it anymore. From now on he was going to be himself in public.

He led the effort that convinced the Unitarian Universalist Association to pass the first-ever gay rights resolution in 1970. He founded the first counseling center for gays and lesbians in San Francisco. In the 1970s he established the first hospice on Maui. He was president of the San Francisco chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1990's. He died at the age of 58 from complications of heart and lung disease, exacerbated by obesity and a life-long smoking habit.

Via Daily Dharma: Treasuring Gratitude and Thanks

 During this time of giving, we should not place too much importance on material gifts; it’s our thoughts, words, and deeds that count. Sincere expressions of appreciation, praise, thanks, and an unexpected helping hand can be the most treasured gifts of all.

—Reverend Earl Ikeda, “O Bodhi Tree, O Bodhi Tree”

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Via Daily Dharma: Become Wise to Your True Nature

 No longer dividing the world into good and bad, love and hate, we not only have more freedom and ease in daily life; we also gain access to the wisdom of our real nature.

—Anne C. Klein, “The Four Immeasurables”

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Via Daily Dharma: What We Realize in Meditation

 In the very first moment of meditation, there is a profound realization: we recognize that we do not have to take our thoughts as completely real.

—Douglas Penick, “What Are You Meditating For?”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - December 6, 2020 💌

 

Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to the point where we realize that in our own being, we are enough.

- Ram Dass -

Via Tricycle // The Third Harmony

The Third Harmony
Directed by Michael Nagler

 

Nonviolent resistance is more effective—and now more frequently applied—than violent resistance. The Third Harmony takes a look at the peaceful path to humanity’s transformation in the 21st century.

Watch now »

Via Daily Dharma: Discover Your Inner Motivation

 When there’s nowhere to turn, nowhere to run, we discover an inner motivation, a strong determination.

—Roko Sherry Chayat, “Nirvana: Three Takes”

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Via No Matter How Fine a Love: The LGBTQ Baha'i Experience

 

As more Baha’i LGBTQ Allies come forward we must constantly address what being an ally looks like, what is appreciated, and what we can work on, we are all still learning as we move forward in this new century.  This list isn’t exhaustive and I encourage everyone’s input as I don’t speak for all LGBTQ Baha’is.  

What Baha’i LGBTQ Allies CAN Do 

1. Stand up to / educate homophobic, transphobic, or misinformed Baha’is in person and on Social Media.

2. When discussing forms of prejudice in a Baha’i setting make a point to mention homophobia and transphobia as forms of prejudice that Baha’is should stand up against.

3. If a Baha’i promotes Reparative / Conversion Therapy please be a voice of reason and mention the dangers of this fringe science and its lackluster success rates.

4. Challenge Baha’is when they mention that they know happy celibate LGBTQ Baha’is, they are a very small minority of LGBTQ Baha’is whose life choices should be respected, but not reflective of most of our lived experiences.

5. On Social Media post stories of LGBTQ inclusion, show support for Pride Month, Transgender Awareness Week, and LGBTQ History Month.

6. Actually LISTEN to LGBTQ Baha’i lived experiences in the Baha’i Faith, many of us are very deepened and have served the Cause in many capacities.

7. Educate your Baha’i community on mental health concerns for LGBTQ people, inclusion matters, heavy handed Baha’is and Institutions have and will continue to push some of us over the edge.

8. Write your concerns to your National Spiritual Assembly and the Universal House of Justice, they need to hear from you, they’ve already heard from us believe me! 

What Baha’i LGBTQ Allies Should NOT Do

1. Showing support in a passive way such as hushed tones and when other Baha’is are not around.

2. Remaining silent when other Baha’is make homophobic and transphobic comments.

3. Remaining silent when Baha’is promote the fringe science of Reparative / Conversion Therapy. 

4. Telling LGBTQ Baha’is what is and what is not homophobic or transphobic, it’s not for heterosexuals to decide that.

5. Challenging LGBTQ Baha’is when they do not think the most recent guidance from the National Spiritual Assembly and the Universal House of Justice is helpful, inviting, or affirming.

6. Telling LGBTQ Baha’is that you are in the same boat for being a single celibate Baha’i, to many of us it’s a false equivalency.

7. Avoid posting LGBTQ affirming content on Social Media out of fear of other Baha’is and Baha’i Institutions.

Via Daily Dharma: Turning On the Light

 The technique of direct liberation is comparable to being afraid of a monster in the dark and then turning on the light. When the light goes on we see that there never was a monster in the first place, that it was just a projection of our own mind.

—Lama Tsultrim Allione, “Feeding Your Demons”

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Via Daily Dharma: Make Room for Happiness

 The more clearly we see the lack of worth in mental and physical sensations, the less desire we’ll have for them until, thoroughly disenchanted, craving will be snuffed out automatically. As soon as that occurs, pure happiness will arise by itself.

—Cynthia Thatcher, “What’s So Great About Now?”

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Seven wonders of the buddhist world BBC DocumentaryVideoStream

Via Daily Dharma: A Single Moment of Meditation

 Sooner or later our practice brings benefits. Sometimes you have to be patient; sometimes, the benefits are immediate. Ideally, you see how even a single moment of meditation has immediate benefits.

—Gil Fronsdal, “Evaluate Your Meditation”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - December 2, 2020 💌

 

Unconditional love really exists in each of us. It is part of our deep inner being. It is not so much an active emotion as a state of being. It’s not ‘I love you’ for this or that reason, not ‘I love you if you love me.’ It’s love for no reason -- love without an object.

- Ram Dass -

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Why Finland And Denmark Are Happier Than The U.S.

Via Daily Dharma: Open Your Heart

 If you’re uncertain about what to do in a situation, just open your heart and love. 

—Andrew Holecek, “The Best Possible Habit”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - November 29, 2020 💌

 

What you seek is already within you. The reality is subjective, not the outer objective reality. You may experience it as focused in the center of your chest. It can be called the soul, or in Hinduism, the Atmān, or in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Jesus Christ said, "The kingdom of God is within you." This is the space of full awareness that is in harmony with the universe; this is wisdom itself. The full spirit of God is inside each of us. When you want to approach God, go inward.

- Ram Dass -

Via Daily Dharma: Acting on What We Know

 Mindfulness... is about being alert and resolute in light of the fundamental knowledge we already possess, knowledge that truly matters. Letting such knowledge permeate our hearts and minds may in the end make it impossible not to act on what we know.

—Jack Petranker, “What You Know to Be True”

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Vento Seco | Teaser Oficial | Breve nos Cinemas

Via Lion's Roar // Thich Nhat Hanh’s Love Letter to the Earth

 

Thich Nhat Hanh’s Love Letter to the Earth

The earth is you. You are the earth. When you realize there is no separation, says Thich Nhat Hanh, you fall completely in love with this beautiful planet.

A lot of our fear, hatred, anger, and feelings of separation and alienation come from the idea that we are separate from the planet. We see ourselves as the center of the universe and are concerned primarily with our own personal survival. If we care about the health and well-being of the planet, we do so for our own sake. We want the air to be clean enough for us to breathe. We want the water to be clear enough so that we have something to drink. But we need to do more than use recycled products or donate money to environmental groups.   We have to change our whole relationship with the earth.

Via Daily Dharma: Embracing Interconnection

To overcome the part of our nature that separates us from others and encourages conflict and division . . . requires profound shifts in the way that we relate to ourselves and others: we can’t ignore, shy away from, or avoid difficult issues or conversations.

—J. Sunara Sasser, “Why Are There So Many Black Buddhists?”

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The Vesper - We Are Family - Reprise / Cover - Covid-19 - Mai 2020 - Gro...

 

The need to recognize our essential buddhanature ~ Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche https://justdharma.com/s/zvnih  

Generally speaking, the ultimate message of Buddhism is that you possess buddhanature. In other words, you already and quite naturally have within you the qualities of complete enlightenment. But you need to realize this. The fact that you don’t have this realization is the reason why you are wandering in samsara. According to Nagarjuna, the Buddha didn’t say that you need to abandon samsara in order to gain enlightenment. What he said was that you need to see that samsara is empty, that it has no inherent existence. This is the same as saying that you need to recognize your essential buddhanature.  – Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche  

 

Source: 

https://bit.ly/1ubYWeU  

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on the web: http://www.siddharthasintent.org/ http://khyentsefoundation.org http://deerpark.in http://lotusoutreach.org http://84000.co http://dzongsar.justdharma.com  

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche biography: http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Dzongsar_Khyentse_Rinpoche

https://www.lionsroar.com/approaching-the-guru/

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The Prom | Official Trailer | Netflix

Via Daily Dharma: Be a Role Model

 Don’t think that your individual actions don’t make a difference. Every little bit helps. Besides, you are modeling for others. Who knows how many people you might inspire? 

—Susan Moon, “Stop Shopping”

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Via Daily Dharma: Connection Is Always Present

 Our suffering connects us to billions of others around the world who are also conscientiously distancing themselves for the sake of kindness and safety. A hand on our hearts can remind us that freedom, peace, and connection are always here.

—Nina Herzog, “Ask a Teacher: Holidays 2020”

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Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - November 25, 2020 💌

 

As you dwell more in loving awareness and see things as they truly are, you begin to expand beyond the boundaries of your separateness. You start to experience the outer world in a new way, so that instead of being in relationship to someone else, you become them. At that moment, the suffering of the universe is inside of you, not outside. True compassion arises out of the plane of consciousness where I am you, where you and I are one.

This is a Buddhist loving-kindness blessing, part of the Metta Meditation:

May all beings be free of danger.
May all beings be free from mental suffering.
May all beings be free from physical suffering.
May all beings know peace.
OM. 

- Ram Dass -

Via Lion's Roar

 

Buddhist Traditions: Which Way to Go?
As part of our #MeditationHacks series, Rev. angel Kyodo williams advises on what to do when confronted with too many choices.

Via Lion's Roar // The Moon

Become Friends with the Moon

Ephrat Livni reflects on years of spiritual study with the moon as her guide.

 

Via Daily Dharma: Finding Meaning in the Face of Suffering

 If there is power in acknowledging and being thankful for even small blessings, the power of finding meaning in the face of suffering can be transformative.

—Pamela Gayle White, “Skunked by Gratitude”

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“Lost” by David Wagoner

Lost

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

For a another level of reflection on this poem and an inspiring British recitation of it, listen to this short excerpt of a talk with a young David Whyte: 

https://youtu.be/XO0OjtThqyI

Via White Crane Institute // On This Day in Gay History

 

November 24 Born Baruch Spinoza 1632 - BARUCH SPINOZA, Dutch philosopher was born (d.1677); One of the great rationalists of 17th century philosophy, he laid the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism. By virtue of his magnum opus, the posthumous Ethics, Spinoza is also considered one of Western philosophy's definitive ethicists. He was raised and educated in the Orthodox Jewish fashion, also studying Latin and was thoroughly familiar with European humanism. What exactly is it that caused him to be excommunicated from the synagogue when he was only twenty-four years old? Many scholars have speculated that the horror Spinoza inspired in the Jewish community may have come not only from his espousal of advanced economic theories, but from his espousal, as well, of "Greek love" among impressionable students in the liberal circle where he taught. A Dutch physician, J. Roderpoort, wrote at The Hague in 1897: “Spinoza excites the youth to respect women not at all and to give themselves to debauchery.”  Was Spinoza merely teaching the Greek and Roman classics, with their inevitable passages on pederasty? What were Roderpoort’s motives for discrediting the Jewish philosopher? Was Spinoza, in fact a pederast? It’s all open to speculation.   Today's Gay Wisdom Spinoza 2017 - The Wisdom of Baruch Spinoza If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past. It may easily come to pass that a vain man may become proud and imagine himself pleasing to all when he is in reality a universal nuisance. I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of established religion. Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice. Be not astonished at new ideas; for it is well known to you that a thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many. Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

Via Daily Dharma: Seeing the Whole Process

 Do not fear things that arise in the mind; question them, know them. The truth is more than thought and feelings, so do not believe and get caught by them. See the whole process arising and ceasing. This understanding gives rise to wisdom.

—Achaan Chah, “Walking: Meditation on the Move”

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Via LGBTQ Nation // A gay kid’s letter to Santa is breaking the internet’s heart

 

Will asked Santa if he can ask God if "He loves me for being gay." Get tissues ready.

By Alex Bollinger Tuesday, November 24, 2020    

 

Will's handwritten letterPhoto: USPS website

 

A letter to Santa sent by a gay kid named “Will” is breaking the internet’s heart.

Each year, the United States Postal Service conducts “Operation Santa,” sending responses to letters to Santa. In many locations, private organizations and citizens can help out, and some of the letters get posted to the USPS website.

The program opens on December 4, but to build interest in the program USPS posted letters from previous years. One of them is from Will, who says he’s gay and asks Santa if he can ask God if “He loves me for being gay.”

Dear Santa,

Do you support the LGBTQ community and if you can speak to god can you tell Him I love him, and if He loves me for being gay.

Thank you

Love Will

No other information about Will is available on the site. It’s not known what he had been told to make him think that God can’t love him if he’s gay, whether he had to hide his letter from his parents and send it secretly, or if he was worried that a response to the letter could out him.

While Twitter is full of straight people saying he’s too young to know that he’s gay – these are possibly the same straight people who ask two-year-old girls if they’re breaking boy’s hearts or three-year-old boys if they have a girlfriend yet – a lot of people just wanted to send Will some support.

WHO IS TELLING THESE QUEER CHILDREN THAT SANTA DOESNT LOVE THEM

— KIE (@kierra3lyse) November 23, 2020

Being a queer kid is so difficult 💔 I hope this little boy knows that God does love him no matter what

— The Evil Wench (@aLilBitWrOng_) November 23, 2020

This hurts my heart so much. I hope will and all the other little lgbtq+ babies know (and get told) they’re so, so loved. For those who believe in Christianity, yes, God loves you. Don’t believe those who say he doesn’t. 😭🥺

— Ashley (@yelhsawo) November 23, 2020

This is what I mean when I say straight cis people will never know what it’s like to be one of us.

— TREVOR🦑 (@bi_oticcharge) November 22, 2020

 

 

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